Transcript Highlights:

• How do we prioritize strategically our workforce and our focus?
• Please come to this committee and say this is where our strategic workforce plan is. is going given the
• I'm the Deputy Secretary of the Workforce Strategy at the California Labor and Workforce Association.
• I mean, we've had workforce investment boards, workforce partnerships, for decades.
• And I believe we have the High School Strong Workforce Program, we have the Strong Workforce Program,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Plan, your tabletop exercises have been completed.
• We competitively procured an ISF to be our strategic sourcing vendor.
• This is an issue that every state workforce agency is wrestling with.
• Obviously, not everything's gone according to plan.
• At local workforce boards or other agencies, employees do.

Transcript Highlights:

• The template for a return-to-class plan that schools may use clarifies that a return-to-class plan is
• They can waive Rice's policy and continue to use their own plans.
• Our current plan costs just under $3,500 a year, or $287 a month.
• Our current plan costs just under $3,500 a year, or $287 a month, which is less than most plans you can
• It reduces plan expenses such as premium taxes and state-mandated coverage.

Summary: The committee heard and discussed several higher education and public school bills. Senator Burwell presented SB 1242 to remove an outdated Coordinating Board approval requirement for Texas State Technical College land and facility acquisitions, and SJR 59 to create a constitutionally dedicated endowment for TSTC capital needs; both drew strong support from industry and workforce groups and were left pending. SB 757, by Senator Middleton, would create a debt-to-earnings accountability system for public college programs, with supporters saying it would protect students from low-value degrees and opponents warning it could unfairly penalize programs with long-term value, especially graduate, medical, and public service fields; it was also left pending. SB 1241, by Senator Millington, would expand acceptable college entrance exams beyond the SAT and ACT, including the Classic Learning Test, and was left pending after testimony from CLT, homeschool, and student groups in support. SB 1085, by Senator Blanco, would let Sul Ross State University offer lower-division courses at its satellite campuses in the Middle Rio Grande region; it too was left pending. The committee then took up a series of public school and higher education measures, voting several out favorably. SB 605, as substituted, limits commissioner approval of charter school expansion amendments for schools under conservatorship or a management team and was reported favorably 9-0. SB 1871 and SB 1873, both by Senator Perry, were revised to narrow teacher immunity, clarify removal and suspension procedures, require periodic review of in-school suspension placements, and align discipline rules; both substitutes were adopted and reported favorably. SB 1872, SB 1874, SB 762, SB 1962, SB 1750, SB 2252, SB 2253, SB 2365, SB 1924, and SB 37 were also considered, with most reported favorably on party-line or near-unanimous votes. SB 1750 would replace a flat charter school facilities funding cap with an attendance-based formula; SB 2252 and SB 2253 address kindergarten readiness, early literacy/numeracy, and educator preparation; SB 2365 concerns student phone use during instructional time; SB 1924 restores local citation authority for certain school offenses and adds reporting, notice, and completion requirements; and SB 37 would expand state oversight of higher education curriculum, governance, faculty senates, and compliance with state law. Other measures heard included SB 769, which would require a Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education; supporters emphasized the need for better data and accessibility, while witnesses suggested broader reporting on race, disability types, and K-12-to-college transitions. SB 2231 would designate a Free College Application Week in October and was left pending. SB 1878 would modernize the Josie School statute and provide formula funding and aid eligibility for Polytechnic College. SB 1409 would authorize universities to offer self-funded student health benefit plans, with Rice University and Texas 2036 supporting the measure as a way to lower costs and expand coverage. SB 2431 would require universities to give foreign language credit for study abroad programs, SB 2314 would require schools to inform students about opting in or out of record sharing for direct admissions through My Texas Future, and SB 2138 would extend the state’s anti-ESG contracting restrictions to public higher education endowments and governing boards; these later bills were introduced and left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of the Veterans Advocate agrees it is a natural extension of our mission to include strategic
• Adopting active service members and family members into our mission optimizes our existing strategic
• vision across the state... ...members and their families into a collaborative strategic vision across
• First, they address the health care workforce shortage.
• Plan. We never take the veteran to debt collection. We don't work with creditors.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs held its second public hearing of the 2025–26 session, with opening remarks from Chairs John Velis and Joe McGonagle outlining testimony on 20 House bills and 18 Senate bills. The hearing covered a wide range of veterans issues, including municipal veterans assistance funds, pension equity, expanding the Office of the Veterans Advocate, veterans service officer staffing, disability benefits eligibility, service dogs, POW tax relief, courtesy parking spaces, women veterans and motherhood, and workforce-related licensing and employment measures. Chairs emphasized the hybrid format, three-minute testimony limit, and written testimony process. Several bills drew support focused on expanding services and access. Representative Arena-DeRosa spoke for bills to broaden municipal veterans assistance funds to cover housing and legal expenses and to study enhanced pension equity for veterans, citing burn pit exposure and shorter life expectancy among veterans. Senator Fattman, Representative Peas, and Veterans Advocate Bob Notch supported bills expanding the Office of the Veterans Advocate to include active-duty service members and their families, arguing it would improve transition support, coordination with state agencies, and retention of military talent in Massachusetts. Representative Arriaga backed a bill to incentivize municipalities to provide full-time or regional veterans service officers and another to study the impact of combat on women veterans and motherhood. Representative Moulton/another sponsor also sought to exempt veterans’ disability payments from income calculations for other state benefits, and Representative Hong and Senator Scanlan supported a state service dog program, POW income tax relief, and courtesy retail parking spaces for veterans. Testimony also focused on workforce and claims-assistance issues. The Military Officers Association of America and James Keene urged passage of bills waiving duplicative education requirements so qualified veterans and military medics can become licensed practical nurses, arguing it would help address health care shortages and recognize military training. Brave Veterans Inc. called for a Veterans Research Trust Fund to protect data and program evaluation work during budget cuts. On claims assistance, one witness supported criminal penalties for unaccredited agents who charge veterans for VA claims help, while a private consulting firm opposed the bill, arguing it would restrict lawful speech and veterans’ choice and that existing federal and HERO Act safeguards already address abuses. The VFW strongly opposed paid claims consulting, said its accredited service officers provide free help statewide, and urged more public awareness of existing free services. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we've helped a number of states develop plans for the same.
• We've helped a number of states develop plans for the same.
• I think it would be really exciting to do kind of like a strategic planning workshop where you really
• kind of put together the plan over a day.
• I think that sounds like a good plan. Yeah, I'd worry.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Disability Employment Subcommittee met with roll call, approved prior meeting minutes, and shared an inspirational quote from Jane Goodall about the importance of every individual. Members then introduced themselves and their roles, including state disability advocates, providers, and commission members, before hearing a presentation from Katia Alpanis and Dina Klumkina of the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED). SEED described its role as a technical assistance and policy resource for states, focused on sharing best practices and examples from other states to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The presentation outlined SEED’s seven policy areas: career readiness and work-based learning, behavioral health and work, stay-at-work/return-to-work supports, employer recruitment and retention tools, entrepreneurship and disability-owned business development, interagency coordination, and state government as a model employer. Examples from other states included scholarship and transition supports in Kentucky and Virginia, stay-at-work programs in Alaska and Washington, accommodation funds in Minnesota, procurement and small business initiatives in New Jersey and Virginia, and model employer efforts in Colorado, New York, and Tennessee. Members also asked about digital accessibility and PEAT; SEED said PEAT has been refunded and that SEED can help with policy-level questions and peer examples, but not implementation of accessibility requirements. Discussion then shifted to possible Massachusetts projects. Members raised concerns about upcoming Medicaid work or civic engagement requirements and how people with disabilities might fall through the cracks, and they asked whether SEED could help Massachusetts use existing documentation, such as IEPs, to reduce barriers. The group identified two main areas for follow-up: a Massachusetts “state as a model employer” roadmap and a youth/young adult employment and volunteer pipeline, potentially linked to transition services and apprenticeship opportunities. SEED agreed to provide Massachusetts-specific analysis and two briefs, one on career readiness policies and one on state-as-model-employer strategies, and the subcommittee planned an offline follow-up meeting to narrow priorities and develop a scope of work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Which is authorized through a one-year planning process that includes both academic and operational plans
• Workforce pathways or flexible instruction for children in foster care.
• Education and workforce development.
• Second, developing a future-ready workforce.
• By the Texas Workforce Commission, they're supported by many grants.

Bills: HB117

Keywords: county regulation, impervious cover, land use, unincorporated areas, environmental management

Transcript Highlights:

• the state workforce. the state workforce.
• That's about 24% of our<00:09:15.480> workforce. our workforce. our workforce.
• . workforce. workforce.
• improvement, and strategic initiatives. improvement, and strategic initiatives.
• workforce training. workforce training.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• intentionally developed a strategic intentionally developed a strategic roadmap<00:15:03.680>
• When I say strategic roadmap.
• their own individualized learning plan their own individualized learning plan and<00:31:22.799><
• There is a huge workforce things.
• um some more awareness and planning um some more awareness and planning around<00:37:45.440>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• plan different uh different strategic plan different uh apis<02:05:22.520> of<02:05:22.760>
• Actually, I feel like you peeked into our new strategic plan, because one of the goal areas is how do
• plan because one into our new strategic plan because one of<02:07:17.199> the<02:07:17.559>
• <02:08:47.559> plan<02:08:47.840> is area in our new strategic plan is area in our
• Is the new strategic plan currently available, or so the draft?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Health and Human Services, and their plan is to build a new allied health building.
• see it later on, but this is their first initial contract stating the method of finance, how they plan
• Fred Lewis, Director of Strategic Initiatives at AEDC. Thank y'all for being here.
• The first part of what we were doing was pay plan. This is kind of the final act of the pay plan.
• This is kind of the final act of the pay plan.

Summary: The subcommittee reviewed multiple methods of finance and construction items, including projects for Arkansas State University, Black River Technical College, UAMS, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and UCA. The UAPB Allied Health and Sciences Building appeared both as a method of finance and as an alternative delivery construction project, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members approved the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, and several discretionary grants, including Department of Health grants for a heart attack center designation and community health worker training, and DHS grants related to homeless services, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. The committee then reviewed service contracts, including RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and a large number of out-of-state and in-state contracts. Testimony focused heavily on DHS staffing and state hospital contracts, the Arkansas State Police seatbelt survey, AEDC’s lithium supply chain analysis, and Shared Administrative Services’ new SuccessFactors performance-management contract. Members asked detailed questions about contract nursing costs, turnover, hiring timelines, and whether some contracts were being renewed or amended beyond their original projected costs. DHS and Veterans Affairs officials explained staffing shortages, retention incentives, and the use of contract labor as a supplement to state employees. Several contracts drew scrutiny and were held for further review. Representative Wardlaw raised concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments on the Department of Education security contract and on DHS staffing contracts, arguing that some had exceeded their original projected totals. The committee voted to hold contracts 5, 7, and 8 until Friday, while adopting the remaining contracts. The meeting ended after informational reports on service contract amendments without material change, executed contracts, and emergency procurements were presented, with no further business before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a strategic move for Texas.
• students are prepared for the workforce.
• This is a bill that plans for the future.
• A workforce is how we keep them here.
• So we've got a robust workforce education program in Texas.

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• Workforce capitalization.
• planning process.
• We provide professional development and they also do strategic planning at that time each year in January
• We developed a five-year strategic plan to help us outline what our big-picture goals are, where we're
• I've seen that firsthand managing the workforce being in the workforce, right?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I had years of experience and a solid plan, but the shutdown reduced demand for child care.
• I had years of experience in a solid plan, but the shutdown reduced demand for child care.
• plan of a public bank.
• California can make a plan to have this as a vital tool for our communities and our residents, and we
• Section 6276B7 appears to use the capital of the FAIR Plan and the earthquake authority to capitalize

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I had years of experience and a solid plan, but the shutdown reduced demand for child care.
• I had years of experience in a solid plan, but the shutdown reduced demand for child care.
• plan of a public bank.
• 900 entities that have public banks who hold over $50 trillion in assets, and California can make a plan
• Section 6276B7 appears to use the capital of the FAIR Plan and the earthquake authority to capitalize

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met and first approved the consent calendar, which included AB 2028, AB 2425, and committee bill AB 2795, all sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also noted that AB 2558 and AB 2746 had been pulled from the agenda. The chair reviewed hearing procedures, including acceptance of written testimony and rules against disruptive conduct. The committee then heard AB 2116, which would require registration and basic conduct standards for certain small-business financing providers, including merchant cash advance companies, and prohibit confessions of judgment and power-of-attorney provisions before default. Supporters argued the bill would close an oversight gap and improve transparency for small businesses; a small business owner testified that a purported 13% loan turned out to have a 235% APR. Opponents said the bill mixed consumer and commercial regulation and could restrict access to capital, though they supported banning confessions of judgment. The bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2243, by Assembly Member Haney, proposed creating a state bank commission to study whether California should establish a state bank or other public financing tools. Supporters said a public banking model could reduce borrowing costs, keep more public money in-state, and better finance housing, infrastructure, and other public priorities; opponents from banking groups raised concerns about taxpayer exposure, deposit guarantees, and the use of public funds and existing lending structures. The bill passed and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2350, which would set guardrails on rent-now-pay-later products for rental housing; supporters said these products can lead to high fees, debt, and eviction risk, while industry groups opposed the bill unless amended. AB 2350 passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. At the end of the meeting, the committee completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's as big as the whole Federal Workforce Investment Act.
• What's happening with the turquoise plan?
• The Department of Workforce Solutions did request from the U.S.
• What this report did is it created a plan and had multiple key steps.
• , into an action plan, into next steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a rule under which they have to file these plans, and those rules are, excuse me, the plans are
• And then... review those plans, provide an independent analysis of those plans, and then ensure that
• Water Planning Statute.
• and water workforce development.
• that strategic water supply, as distinct from the Strategic Water Reserve.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• workforce.
• What recent workforce supports and initiatives have made the biggest impact on retaining our workforce
• What recent workforce supports and initiatives have made the biggest impact on retaining our workforce
• , human sector workforce.
• That's the research agenda within behavioral health workforce, behavioral health and workforce.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to approve the April and May minutes, welcome a new member, and hear an update from Gina Frey of EOHHS on statewide health and human services workforce development efforts. Frey described cross-secretariat initiatives under the Workforce Skills Cabinet, including MA Repay loan repayment awards, expanded community college and tuition supports, ESOL/work-readiness programming for immigrants, and efforts to build career pathways and reduce attrition in nursing, behavioral health, direct care, and primary care. She also reviewed a $46 million ARPA-funded home and community-based services grant program that supported 82 grantees, led to hiring 8,752 new staff, over 1,000 interns, 2,000 new certifications, and a drop in vacancy rates from 22% to 12%. Members raised concerns about the impact of immigration policy changes on the direct care workforce, including losses of trained workers in provider agencies, and asked whether any exemption or other relief efforts were underway. Frey said EOHHS is tracking the issue closely but did not identify a specific exemption effort. The discussion also touched on Medicaid and related program changes, with Frey noting the administration is focused on understanding potential impacts to eligibility and work requirements. Rep. Howard asked about initiatives for direct support professionals and wraparound supports, and Frey said those efforts are often led by individual agencies such as MassAbility and DDS, with EOHHS coordinating across them. The latter part of the meeting shifted to planning FY26 subcommittee goals and possible events. Members discussed using the Health Policy Commission’s Behavioral Health Workforce Center and possibly asking for a study comparing compensation in DDS and related direct care roles against health care and education jobs. They also discussed a possible cross-state public event on immigration’s impact on the workforce, especially for people with disabilities and direct support services, and agreed to continue refining goals and event ideas by email and at the next meeting. Frey provided a website link and contact information for Amy Doyle at the Health Policy Commission to facilitate future presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we planned projects, FDOT takes a bottoms approach and we approach by developing plans and we certainly
• Gary Tuchman for Metro Plan.
• So that's how much a plan that's when the Mpo became metro plan.
• responsibility, Pinellas Planning Council.
• But there is a very strategic value.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on workforce development.
• on workforce development.
• on workforce development.
• Is there any plan for those disadvantaged communities to open kind of like a workforce? Mr.
• Is there any plan for those disadvantaged communities to open kind of like a workforce? Mr.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee held an introductory organizational meeting for the newly named Workforce and Economic Development Committee, with Chair Dave Baker noting a quorum and that no votes or formal actions were scheduled. Members and staff introduced themselves and described their districts, backgrounds, and priorities. Several members emphasized worker protections, labor experience, small business concerns, rural economic issues, and the importance of balancing employer and employee interests. Others highlighted education-to-workforce pathways, affordability, support for seniors, and opportunities for immigrant and refugee communities. Chair Baker said he wants the committee to find a balance between protecting labor and ensuring a strong employment base, fair rules, and fair taxes, while also acknowledging concerns about recent policy trends and the need to get proposals right before they leave the committee. Members from both parties echoed themes of collaboration and economic opportunity, though some Republicans criticized past rules and regulations as burdensome on small businesses. The committee also welcomed nonpartisan staff and DFL/GOP staff, including the committee administrator, legislative assistant, House Research, and fiscal analysis staff. The committee then received an overview from DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek and deputy commissioners. Varilek described DEED’s mission as empowering growth of the Minnesota economy for everyone, increasing prosperity and extending it broadly, and coordinating with other agencies such as Labor and Industry to avoid duplication and use taxpayer dollars efficiently. He said DEED focuses on business attraction, retention, and expansion, workforce development, and helping Minnesotans—including people with disabilities—prepare for jobs and independent living. A deputy commissioner began outlining the economic development division’s structure and operations, but the transcript cuts off before the full presentation was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The city's strategic location between San Antonio, Laredo, and the U.S. border makes it a key economic
• Member Senate Bill 21 creates the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
• Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as a special fund managed under the comptroller of public accounts.
• The bill also creates a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Advisory Committee to provide current cryptocurrency
• of an Advanced Nuclear Energy Workforce Development.

Bills: SJR34, SB10, SB18, SB19, SB21, SB72, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB480, SB495, SB627, SB703, SB767, SB790

Keywords: parental rights, parents, children, custody, care and control, upbringing, family law, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, child welfare, education policy, medical decisions, parental authority, primary decision makers, family autonomy, education, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display, First Amendment